Chereads / BEYOND THE PATH / Chapter 31 - Time Running Out

Chapter 31 - Time Running Out

"We gotta go, Rudra. Hurry! I don't think these freaks are from my department, I can see it, I had never seen them in my department, they all are after me, Wake up you bastard! Fuck it" Arun's voice was laced with urgency as he observed the approaching officer, a knot of tension forming in his stomach. The abrupt realization that they had been spotted coursed through him, triggering a silent call to action.

"Stay right where you are!" The leader reverberated in the air, amplified by a jarring noise that seemed to momentarily cloak the surroundings in disarray. The world around Arun shuddered to a sudden halt, as if yielding to the force of his word.

Both Rudra and Arun, guided by instinct, swiftly averted their gazes. It was an art they had mastered—a means to obscure their identities, to vanish into the mundanity of the environment. Amidst the tension, Rudra had already slipped seamlessly into the role he knew well, his focus unwavering despite the chaos.

Caught in a vortex of conflicting emotions, Rudra briefly closed his eyes, as if seeking solace in the darkness that encapsulated his mind. The weight of their impending escape bore down on him, a challenge that demanded the unwavering resolve he had honed over time. While the clamor of approaching footsteps and urgent shouts echoed around them.

As the seconds ticked by, Arun and Rudra remained striking, unwavering in their defiance. The demands to turn and face their pursuers fell upon deaf ears. The world had momentarily crystallized, reducing Arun to mere observers caught in the grip of an extraordinary standoff.

Arun clung to a glimmer of hope, a silent plea that Rudra's extraordinary abilities would once again pull them out of the abyss. He watched Rudra with bated breath, his heart racing in rhythm with each fleeting second. However, Rudra, locked in a world of his own, seemed to grapple with something beyond their grasp. The power that usually danced at his fingertips now slipped through his fingers like sand, leaving behind a sense of foreboding.

His eyes remained fixed on the approaching danger, the specter of their pursuers casting a long shadow over their plans. The sheen of sweat on his forehead mirrored the intensity of their situation, each drop a silent testament to the escalating stakes. The walls of the room seemed to inch closer, mirroring his growing discomfort.

In the midst of it all, a truth struck Arun with the force of a thunderbolt. Here he stood, trapped in a perilous dance, his fate linked with another's abilities. The notion of relying on someone else's powers twisted his stomach into knots, an uncomfortable alliance he had no choice but to accept. And it was Rudra's talents that held the key to escape from this grim situation.

While Rudra's focus intensified, channeling his power and strength into an invisible reservoir, Arun's body began to stir. His demeanor shifted, and his eyes gleamed with a blend of concentration and determination. Amid the tension, Arun had glimpsed an opportunity—a glimmer of hope in the midst of uncertainty. The gears of his mind turned, crafting a plan that could potentially alter their fate.

As their leader drew closer, Arun's resolve crystallized. With a burst of unstoppable passion, he surged forward from his hidden stance, stepping into the open, an outstanding figure against the backdrop of secrecy. Exposing himself to their adversaries, he addressed them with a voice that sought to bridge the divide between defiance and understanding.

"Hey, everyone! How's it going?" Arun's words resonated with a tone that combined familiarity and earnestness. "I'm right here, no need to jump on. Let's not rush things. Can we just talk?"

His voice, laced with a fusion of assurance and humility, held a strange magnetism. The officers, a trio united by purpose, exchanged glances that were laden with both wariness and curiosity. In that suspended moment, time seemed to hold its breath. A pause settled over them, as if they were characters frozen in a tableau, each waiting for the other to make a move.

Yet, within this tableau, a figure stood out—their leader, a man of few words, with eyes that seemed to penetrate the very core of Arun's intentions. His face remained a mask of stoicism, an enigma amidst the shifting dynamics.

"Look, I know you all want me, but let me try to explain the situat—" The words were cut short, swallowed by the fierce echo of a gunshot. A grim, relentless force propelled the bullet, which found its target with unrelenting precision. Arun's neck bore the brunt of the impact, a merciless collision that sent shockwaves through the air.

In an instant, the atmosphere transformed from anticipation to devastation. The force of the bullet obliterated the delicate boundary of Arun's skin, sending waves of pain coursing through him. His world shrank to a single point—the impact zone on his neck. The man who had fired the shot acted swiftly, the discharge of his weapon an act devoid of hesitation. The bullet struck its mark with a ruthless efficiency, the sharp edge of the moment crack open apart.

Arun's body crumpled, gravity pulling him down to the unforgiving ground. He fought to staunch the torrent of blood that gushed forth, his hands stained with the stark evidence of the injury. Time seemed distorted, elongated by the intensity of the moment. The world seemed to contract, the pain eclipsing all else.

While Arun's body lay in agony on the ground, Rudra's stance remained unbroken. His meditation, a steadfast refuge of concentration, held him in its thrall. The chaos that had erupted around him was a tempest that his focus seemed impervious to. The gunshot, the commotion—it was as though they existed in another realm.

Arun's gaze, locked onto Rudra's unmoving form, conveyed both pain and a plea for help. His eyes, windows to his suffering, remained fixed on Rudra, a silent plea that transcended words. And then, as if in response to the unspoken call

Rudra remained a ghostly presence, unnoticed by the group fixated solely on Arun. To them, it was as though Rudra was a mere afterthought in the unfolding drama. Their attention was a laser focus on Arun, his form sprawled on the ground amidst the raw turmoil of pain and vulnerability. Despite the relentless cascade of blood, Arun's body refused to yield to the overwhelming assault. He moved with an instinctual urgency, muttering words only he could decipher, his unwavering gaze locked onto Rudra.

Among the group, he glanced him out forward—the orchestrator. This individual, exuding an air of authority, took measured steps forward. His towering presence stood as a testament to a life carved by experiences and challenges. At 43 years of age, he bore a muscular frame that dominated the space, his 6.8-inch height and elongated neck adding to his commanding aura. Dressed with precision, his attire draped him like armor, his short hair rustling in response to the currents of tension that swept through the air.

Age had etched a story onto his face, visible in the wrinkles that intersected with his intense gaze. A pair of goggles perched atop his nose, seemingly a portal to his thoughts and emotions. His aura radiated an imposing energy, a force that commanded attention even in the face of chaos. As he leaned over Arun, his presence cast a shadow that seemed to stretch across the scene, obscuring everything else in its wake. In this moment, his authority reigned supreme, his words held the weight of judgement, and his actions dictated the course of destiny.

He took out his goggles and glare directly at Arun in his eyes, so does Arun too. He seems resolute and even in this situation he seems confident and focus but the one thing he was missing the part that the situation he's currently in, where he is in the verge of death probably taking his last breath. However, he have no intention to ask for the help. As it seems he is cursing him in his head.

All the three remaining figures came forward, each of their steps is measured and in sequence, where there's total two cars present over there and one of them looks new, it seems it's newly purchased from the car's store and the other one seems quite old but it's bigger and stronger than the first one.

Among the three of them, two are the men and one is a female figure, around 30 years and the other both of them seems younger although they looks familiar

One of among the men came forward with a little hint of hesitation in his walk, he calmly asked with lower pitched voice "Boss! Do you think he is going to die?"

"Look at this piece of shit, so gross and filth, huh.. just take this shit! away from eyes, it's hurting them"